Hatch construction for upper decks



Dec. 8, 1931. H. H. FLIEGEL 1,835,856

HATCH CONSTRUCTION FOR UPPER DECKS Filed May 5, 1951 s Sheets-Shed 1 ATTORNEYS Dec. 8, 1931. I 1,835,856

HATCH CONSTRUCTION FOR UPPER DECKS Filed May 5, 1951 3 Sheets-Shget 5 INVENTORI uberiflflFz/egeb ATTOR NEYS Patented Dec. 8,1931

HUBERT xrrnrnenn or MERRICK,.NEW YORK,

V HATCH'CONSTRUCTIOK'FUR UPPER DECKS Application filed" May 5, 1931. Serial No. 535,261;

This invention relates 'to hatches forimarine vessels, and has 1n0re particularrefer ence to animproved topdeck hatch'constructionwhich is-applicable to passenger; general cargoor other typesof vesselsiwhere it isdesir'able' to render the h'atchwaywatertightL The outstanding obj ectli of. the present invention is to provide a top or shelterfdeck hatch,-in'whi'ch the cover or covers therefor 19 may he handled with greateri facility and more expeditiously by lessennulnben of men than is'now possible, and inwhich the covers when removed are capableof being stowed, so as to'offer a minimum'ofinterference with the use of the deck. space and to the loading'or unloading of the'cargo;

The invention further resides'in ahatch for top or slielter'decks, which is preferably of steel construction and so fashioned as: to

obtain a selfsealing watertightrelationbetween the covers; and the coa-mingtoobviate the necessity of employing 'tarpaulins.

The invention further embodies. means for mountin'gthe hatch covers for rolling support upon' the deck and for: limited raising and lowering'movement to respectivelyefiect tie clearing" of the coaming'when uncovering the hatchway and the seating ofthe covers on the coaming'wheni closing the hatch- As a further objectythe invention embraces, in certain instances, means forrpermitting of the swinging and supporting'of certain of the hatch covers into a "vertical out-of-the-way position; I

' Another object in view is to provide means for drawing and retaining the hatch covers into intimate water-tight relation to the co mining and to each other, in order "to insure against accidental displacement'thereoif due to heavy weather or leakage through. the hatchways.

A still furtlier aim is to provide a hatch construction in which the arrangement and manner 0t supporting the hatch covers admit of partial and selective uncovering of various portions or areas of each hatchwa-y when it is undesirable or unnecessary to r completely uncover the hatchways. The invention further aims to generally improve a top or shelter deck-hatch structure without unduly complicating the same and providing a hatch ;which issufiicientlyi strong and. durable: to lastthroughout; the'length; of 7 life offthe vessel. .v Witlrtheaboverecitedgand other.- objects in view, reference-is had'f to -the f following description; and accompanying drawings; in which there is exhibited one example-or em;- bo'diment'of'the invention,.while the: claims 0 define the actual scope of the same;

In t the drawings t 'Figure 11s a:- diagrammatic side; view: of

a vessel. equipped with top or shelter deck hatches constructed-in accordance; with the lnvention. fFigure? is a fragmentaryplanv-iew theree o Figure 3 is an-enlargedlongitudinalisectional'vi'ew showingthe 'hatchway opened and'with the covers in their stowed positions. Figuretis-a plan. view on a larger scale illustrating the hat ch covers in closed sealed relation toithehatchwayi Figure15r is a: fragmentary transverse sectional View taken approximately on the line indicated. at 5'5rin Figure 4. 1

' Figure 6. is a further enlargedi'fragmentary sectional view through the connected meeting edgesof' thehatch covers, the samebeing Z 0 taken approximately on the line indicated at 6+6in'Figure 4. r

Figure 7 is a further enlarged] sectional view taken approximately on the line indicated: at, 7+7 ofFigure 4, illustrating the 7 hatch cover in its sealed watertight condition and particularly illustrating the clamping'down means carriedby. the cover supportlng means.

Figure 8 is a similar view-illustratingvsaid1 clamping down means released and the-hatch cover raised to clear the coaming;

Referring to the-drawings by characters of reference, A designates the hull ofa'vessel provided with; the usual forecastle head B, top deck C, Samson posts D, from which is supported the tackle for handling thehatch covers and cargo; Certain of the, winches-E are supported onelevatedplatforms E for a purpose which will'be hereinafter set forth.

In the illustration disclosed in Figures 1 and 2, the two forward hatches G and H are disclosed in order to illustrate several applica tions of the present invention, which will be later developed. The hatchways include the usual coaming 10, which in the present instance is preferably of steel construction, having a grooved orchanneled upper marginal edge 11 which is designed to receive a hemp packing 12 which is laid into the groove or channel just prior to the closing of the hatch and which is removed and properly stowed immediately upon the openin'g'of the hatch.

Each hatch may include one or more covers, depending upon its size, but in the present instance, the two forward hatches illustrated each include twosections, namely,a long section 13 anda short. section14, both of-which are'of a Width to cover the entire'width of the hatchway and of a lengthto combine to cover the entire length of the hatchway. The foremost hatch G as illustrated,and commonly termed No. 1 hatch, is disposed immediatelyin rear of the forecastle head B, which forecastle head afiords a convenient means for the reception and stowage of a hatch cover by constructing the same to form a stowage space indicated by the reference character I. It thusrfollows that in the foremost or No. 1 hatch G, the longer hatch cover 13 is disposed forwardly for shifting movement into the stowage compartment I tofuncover the hatchway. The shorter cover section 14 isdisposed rearwardly forrearward movement to uncover the hatchway and is designed to be received and stowed under the elevated 'winch platform F. No. 2 hatchway, indicated by the reference character H, has the shorter cover section 13 disposed forwardly and the longer cover section 14 disposed rearwardly, and the forward shorter cover section 13 is designed to be shifted forwardly touncoverthe hatch and for stowage under the elevated winch platform F which is, di-

' rectly in front of theNo. 2 hatch. In this instance, the longer rear hatch cover section 14 is designed to be moved by suitable tackle rearwardly and upwardly to the dotted line position illustrated in Figure 1 and to-the full line position illustrated in Figure 3.

' The hatch cover sections 13 and 14 are substantially of identical construction except for their difference in length, and each includes a main body portion 15 having upstanding opposite side-walls 16 and upstanding outer endwalls 17, which walls are provided with outwardly projecting horizontal flanges 18. The main or body portions 15 are transversely braced by angle braces 1.9a applied to the upper surfaces thereof and extending between the upstanding side walls 16. In order to drain water from the upper surface of the hatch covers, scupper openings 19 are provl'ded at'the uncture of the side and end walls with the main body portion 15. The under and to insure a watertight relation of the coverswith the ackin 12 interen a eable b 7 C! b clamping means-is provided on the covers and coaming, which means as illustrated consists of a plurality of clamping rods 21 entending through the upwardly offset margithrough sleeves 22 carried by the flanges with the lower hooked terminals 23 designed to engage within a suitable seat 24 formed on the sides of the coaming. The upper threaded'ends 25 of the'rods receive thereover nuts 26 for drawing upwardly on the clamping rods 21. The seat 24, as illustrated, is in the nature ofan inverted channel strip, although i this is merely illustrative ofvarying equivalent means. for performing this function. In order to connect the meeting edges of the sections 13 and 14 and to obtain a Watertight relation therebetween, said meeting edges are .1:

provided with upstanding flanges 28 and 29 respectively, which flanges may preferably be formed as part of an angle strip, the-base flanges 30 and 31 of which are riveted or otherwise attached to the cover sections. One

of the cover sections is formed on its under side with a lap plate 32 which projects from the meeting edge and is designed to underlie the meeting edge of the other. cover section.

,A pluralityof swiveled rotary stud bolts 33 projects from the meeting edge flange 29 for engagement within the threaded openings 34 of the other meeting edge flange 28, and said bolts are provided with suitable manipulating heads 35 with which ratchet wrenches or convenient means are adapted to be engaged for turning the same. Suitable packing strips 36 and 37 are positioned between the flanges 28 and 29 priorto the drawing of the cover sections together, and 11;

said packings are impinged between the flanges to obtain a watertight joint.

The hatch cover sections are mounted and supported from the deck for rolling movement longitudinally with respect to the hatchways .by means of flanged wheels 40 which are journaled in the forked feet 41, which feet. are in turn carried by legs 42 which depend from the side flanges 18 and are'rigidly covered by the hatch cover sec tions. The flanged rollers roll upon a track consisting of a pair of rails 43 secured to the deck on opposite sides of the hatchway coaming. The upper end of each foot slidably receives in the recesses 44 at its upper end, the

nalflanges 18 and depending therefrom I 'furcations of the-bifurcated lower-end of the leg 42, whereby the-legs andhatch cover sections may move vertically with respect to the feet. In order to effect vertical movements'of the hatch cover sections and-legs 42, a jackscrew 46 extends vertically through "each leg and is provided witha manipulating wheel or head 47 at its upper end. The

whereby vertical motion upwardly and downwardly is impartedthereto by turning of the ackscrewin opposite directions. It-is apparent that upon downward movement of 'thenut, the same will contact with the upper end of the foot "41,;toefi'ect upward movement of the legs 42 and hatch cover sections,

and, conversely, upon upward'movement of A *the nut, the legsand'hatch cover sections are lowered. In order to effect the clamping down of the hatch coversections at the points where'the supporting legs occur, each foot-is provided with a pair of rail gripping tongs -50, the cooperating jaws 51 at the lower ends of which are designed to clamp under the rail head, and the upper free ends 52of which tongs are connected by link-s53 to the nut 49. Itthus follows that as the nut is moved upwardly to lower the hatch cover sections, a continued upward movement-of the nut will cause the links 53 to exert a pull on the jaw ends for swinging the tong 'j awsol'to agripping positionunder the rail head, and'further continued upward movement will cause thedrawing down of the hatch cover section against the packing at the upper edge ofthe 'coaming, Conversely, Y a downward move ment of the nut will through 'the links initi ally swing the-jaws '51 of'the tongs to areleased position prior to the engagement of the nut with the upper end of the feet,'to raise the hatch cover'sections. In practice, it is obvious thatthe hatch cover sections are raised sufiiciently to clear the positioning means QO'f'rom the upper edge'of the coaming and packing, after which'the' hatch covers are free-to be rolled to 'anuncovered relation to the hatchway. 'In some instances, where it is undesirable to uncover the complete hatchway area, the hatchway coversection clamping means are released'without disconnecting the meeting edges of the hatch covers from each Otl1I,tIl(il both sections may be moved in unison forwardly orrearwardly to uncover a portion of the hatchwa-y area. In other instances, one hatch" cover section may be moved without unclamping or moving the other hatch cover section.

In the hatchways, such as N012 hatch,

the hatch cover "to a position to entirely uncover the hatchway, it is necessary toswing the angle hatch cover to an upright out-ofthe -way'stowed position. 'Inthis instance,;

the'rail ends are upturned and disposed vertically and the correspondingend of the hatch cover section is provided with rollers tackle on the Samson post D is'employedfor swinging the opposite end of the hatch cover upwardly until thecover assumes the vertical position illustrated in Figure 3, itrbeing'um ,derstood that the roller 61 guides the lower end of the hatch cover downwardly, where it is maintained between the rail ends and upstanding bars 62 which are attachedto the deck between the track rails and in spaced relation'to the upturned rail ends 60. This, defines, in effect, a pocket for the reception ofthe'lowert-edge of the cover. Hatch Gr or No. '1 hatch may be fully opened by moving the forward angle hatch cover 13 forwardly under the forecastle head B into the stowage space I and rolling the rear shorter'hatch platform F, Hatch No. 2 or hatch H may be fully opened bymoving the shorter forgward hatch'cover section 13 forwardly under the elevated winch platform F and-rolling the rear longer hatch ,cover rearwardly and "where there is not sufficient roomsto roll '61 which are designed to coactwith-the vertically disposed upturned ends 60, :and'the -coverl4 rearwardly under the elevated winch said cover will be of a proper size tocom pletely cover the entire hatch-Way.

From the forcgomgnt will thus be seen that a top or shelter deckhatch has been devised which is 'constructedof steel and is self sealing to avoid the necessity of the use of tarpaulins and the expense and inconvenience incident thereto, andin whichthe hatch covers are capable of beingmore expeditiously handled by a smaller crew, and'which'when not in active use are stowed or positioned so a as to offer practically no interference with the deck space or the loading or unloading of the cargo. It is also apparent that'hatches constructed in. this manner will accommodate cargo elements ofgreatlength, in that the hatchcovers-when opened do not interout the length oflife of the vessel-and will require little, if any, repairing.

White therehas been illustrated and described apre'terred embodiment of the invention, no limitationis intended to the precisestructural details, as it *isto'be under stood that variations andmodifications which Iproperly'fall within the scope ofthe claims may be resorted to when desired.

What is claimed is:

1. A. top deck hatch including in combination a hatchway coaming having a packing at its upper marginal edge, a hatch'cover adapted to seat upon the packed upper edge of the coaming and having depending means for engagement within the coaming and means on the cover for supporting the same from the deck for shifting movement to covering and uncoverlng relation with respect to the hatchway, said supportingmeans deck for relative movement with respect to the hatchway and with respect to each other,

Yinterengageable means at themeeting ends of said sections for clamping a packing therebetween to form a water-tight oint, said latter means comprising a lap plate on the under side of and extending from the meeting end of one section and adapted to underlie the other section, a pair of upstanding flanges at the meeting ends of said sections, and means carried by one flange and engaglng the other for drawing the sections together to clamp a packing therebetween.

3. The combination wlth a top deck formed with a hatchway including a coaming having a packing at its upper edge, of a covering therefor including a pair ofmating sections adapted to seat upon the packed upper edge of the coaming, interengageable upstanding and underlapping means at the meeting ends of said sections for receiving and clamping a packing therebetween to form a water-tight joint, means for independently supporting said sections from the deck for relative movement with respect to the hatch and with respect to each other, said latter means including mechanism for raising, lowering and drawing the hatch sections into watertight relation with the coaming.

4. In a top deck hatch construction, a hatchway coaming, a hatch cover, wheeled supports depending from the opposite sides of the cover, a track on the deck including a pair of parallel rails disposed on opposite sides of the coaming and upon which the hatch cover is adapted to he moved to and from its covering relation to the coaming and means constituting a part of said supports for gripping said rails and drawing and vclamping the hatch cover down into engagement with the coaming. g

5. A top deck hatch construction including a hatchway coaming having a packing at its upper edge, a hatch cover, means for supporting said cover from the deck for fore and aft rolling movement to and from a superposed relation to the hatchway and a common means constituting a part of the supporting means for effecting the raising and lowering of the hatch cover and for drawing the hatch cover when lowered into flat seating contact with the coaming packin 6. In a top deck hatch constuction, a hatchway including a coaming, a pair of hatch cover-sections, means for independently supporting said sections-from the deck for fore and aft rolling movement to and from a su-,

perpcsed relation to the coaming and for elevating and lowering and clamping down said sections on the coaming and interengageable means at the meeting edges of the sections for securing the same together in watertight relation.

7. In a top deck hatch construction, a hatchwa-y coaming having a packing at its upper edge, a hatch cover, interengaging means on the hatch cover and coaming for clamping down the cover against the packed upper edge and means for supporting the hatch cover from the deck for shifting movement to and from its covering'relation, said latter means including additional means for clamping down the cover against the packed upper edge of the coaming.

8. In a top deck hatch construction, a hatchway coaming having a packing at its upper edge, a hatch cover, vertically movable clamps depending from the margins of the hatch cover having hooked lower ends, seats on the coaming with which said hooked ends are engageable for clamping down the cover against the packed upper edge of the coaming and means for supporting the hatch cover from the deck forshitting move-ment to and from its covering relation, said latter means including auxiliary means for effecting the clamping down of the cover against the packed upper. edge of the coaming.

9. In a top deck hatch construction, a hatchway coaming having a packing at its upper edge, a hatch cover, vertically movable clamps depending from the margins of the hatchcover having hooked lower ends, seats on the coaming with which said hooked ends are engageable for clamping down the cover against the packed upper edge of the coaming and means for supporting the hatch cover from the deck for shifting movement to and from its covering relation, said latter means including rigid brackets depending from opposite sides of the cover, flanged wheels carried by the lower extremities of the brackets and rails on the deck disposed on opposite sides of the coaming and upon which the wheels roll, and devices forming a part of said latter means engageable with the rails for gripping the same and clamping down the coveragainst'the packed upper edge of the coaming.

10. In a top deck'hatch construction, a hatchway coaming having a packing at its upper edge, a hatch cover, interengaging means on the hatch cover and coaming for clamping down the cover against the packed upper edge and means for supporting the hatch cover from the deck including rigid brackets depending from opposite sides of the cover, flanged wheels carried by the lower extremities of the brackets and rails on the deck disposed on opposite sides of the coaming and upon which the wheels roll, said brackets being adjustable in length to raise] and lower the hatch cover and means operable upon lowering of the hatch cover engageable with the rails for elfecting an auxiliary clamping down of the hatch cover.-

11. In a top deck hatch, ahatchway coaming having a packing at its upper edge, a hatch cover adapted for watertight seating on the packed upper edge of the coaming and means for supporting the hatch cover from the deck for rolling movement to and from its covering relation relative to the coaming, said means including track rails secured to the deck and extending along opposite sides of the coaming, depending legs on opposite sides of the hatch cover, feet at the lower ends of the legs, with which the legs are connected for vertical movement, track engaging wheels journaled in the feet, jack means on each leg including a vertically movable nut operable upon upward move ment to lower the hatch cover onto the coaming and operable upon downward movement to engage the foot for raising the said cover with respect to the coaming.

12. In a top deck hatch, a hatchway coam ing having a packing at its upper edge, a hatch cover adapted for watertight seating on the packed upper edge of the coaming and means for supporting the hatchcover from the deck for rolling movement to and from its covering relation relative to the coaming, said means including track rails secured to the deck and extending along opposite sides of the coaming, depending legs on opposite sides of the hatch cover, feet at the lower ends of the legs, with which the legs are connected for vertical movement, track engaging wheels journaled in the feet, ack means on each leg including a vertically movable nut operable upon upward movement to lower the hatch cover onto the coaming and oper-, able upon downward movement to engage the foot for raising the said cover with respect to the coaming and rail gripping means carried by each foot operable by and upon upward movement of the nut after the cover is lowered into contact with the coaming to coaming, said means including track rails secured ,to the deck and -.extending along; op:

posite. sides of; the coaming, depending. legs on oppositesidesi of the hatch cover, feet-at the lower endsLof thelegm with which the legs" are connected. for vertical movement,

track engagingwheelsjournaled in the .feet

j ack means on each legincluding a vertically movable nut operable upon upwardimove ment to lower the hatch'cover onto the coam 7 ing and operable upon dowhward movement to engage the foot for raising the said cover with respect to the coaming, rail meanscarried by each foot operable by and upon upward movement of the nut after the cover is lowered into contact with the coamingto exert a drawing down of the cover into water-tight relation with the packing and an auxiliary cover clamping means provided respectively on the cover and coaming.

14. In a top deck hatch, a hatchway coaming, a track on the deck including parallel rails extending on opposite sides of the coaming, feet having wheels journaled therein for rolling engagement with the track rails, a hatch cover having depending legs at its opposite sides and having vertical guided connection at thelower ends with the feet, a screw extending downwardly with respect to and swiveled to each leg, anon-rotary nut engaged by the screw, guided for vertical movement by the leg and adapted upon downward movement to engage with the upper end of the foot to raise the hatch cover with respect to the coaming and adapted upon upward movement to lower the hatch cover onto the coaming and tongs carried by each foot operable by and upon upward movement of the'nut, to engage the rails and draw the hatch cover into watertight contact with the coaming.

15. In a hatch construction, a hatchway coaming, a track including parallel rails extending along opposite sides of the coaming and having upturned vertical ends disposed beyond the coaming, a hatch cover having depending legs adjustable in length and provided with track engaging wheels at the lower ends,rollers supported from and pro-' truding beyond an end of the hatch cover and disposed adjacent the upper portion of said cover for engaging with the upturned rail ends to guide downwardly the end of the hatch cover having the end rollers engripping facilitating the upward swinging movement of the other end of the hatchcover to a vertically stowed position parallel to the upturned rail ends.

. beyond the coaming,

guiding the cover 16. In a hatch construction, a hatchway coaming, a track includin parallel rails extending along opposite si es of the coaming and having upturned verticalends disposed a hatch cover having dependin legs adjustable in'length and provided wit track engaging Wheels at the lower ends, rollers at the ends of the hatch cover to: engage with the upturned rail ends for for swinging movement to and from a vertical stowed position and means spaced from and within the upturned s rail ends'to cooperate with the rail ends for holding'the hatch cover in its vertical stowed position. v HUBERT H. FLIEGEL.

ant 

